Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.
AN: Oh boy, I totally apologize for being gone so long. It's funny how fast time goes by sometimes. Among RL issues, including the slow decline of my mother, plus the ending of yet another all-time favorite series of mine (and with an unsatisfactory ending at that!), plus getting distracted by several other Zorro stories and Zorro's anniversary, yeah, these two final stories got neglected and um, perhaps forgotten. Oops.
Anyway, thanks again for returning. This chapter hopefully is slightly exciting!
Previously:
"Oh, Diego!" Victoria threw herself in his arms, hugging him. "You're so completely the man of my dreams." Coming back to her senses, Victoria suddenly pulled herself away from him. "We mustn't lose sense of time, though. We really should see about the paintings before siesta is over. Or…someone notices we're in here alone."
"While I'm thinking of it, since you've said the rumors of our courtship should've spread by now, why don't you join us for supper again at the hacienda tonight?"
"I'm not sure…let me check with Alicia and see."
Diego wasn't too happy with that answer, but he quickly reminded himself that his novia was indeed a working woman, at least until they were married. Another reason to get the wedding scheduled as soon as possible!
"Let's see the painting in question before time escapes us," Diego said, offering Victoria his arm. She took it with a smile, grateful for any chance to be close to her love.
After they hung the painting and shared a quick kiss, Diego left the tavern and Victoria quickly completed her remaining tasks before siesta was over. She was practically bursting with anticipation waiting for Alicia and Rosa to return. Having scheduled herself to work until closing with Rosa, Victoria hoped Alicia would agree to work for her so she could spend the evening with Diego. And his family, of course.
Her employees entered the tavern together and quickly put their belongings in the back room. Victoria approached Alicia as she tied her apron around her waist.
"Um, Alicia, I was wondering…."
"If I'd work for you tonight so you can have the night off again?"
Victoria looked at the smug smile on her employee's face but couldn't remain irritated with her. After all, she was right.
"Yes, Diego asked me to have supper with them again at the hacienda." Victoria tried to keep the joy she felt from showing in her voice but was unable to.
"Since he didn't ask you last night, he must be about to ask you tonight if he can officially court you."
In spite of herself Victoria felt a slight blush rise across her cheeks, which made Alicia laugh louder in triumph. This caught Rosa's attention and the older woman walked towards them.
"What's the matter with you, you silly girl? Laughing so loud it'll wake up our patrons."
"Victoria has been invited again for supper with the de la Vegas, that's all."
The older woman, fairly new to the pueblo, raised her eyebrows slightly at Victoria. "Are we about to hear a courtship has been arranged between the two of you soon?"
As Victoria turned a darker red, Alicia laughed even louder. "Oh, it's simply so wonderful seeing you in love, Victoria. Well, in love with someone more available than Zorro, that is."
"Yes, I could never understand why you were supposedly allowing that masked man to romance you, Victoria." A look of alarm passed quickly over Rosa's face. "I mean, if you don't mind me saying so, he isn't quite the marrying type, is he?"
"As half the women in the pueblo have been trying to tell her, haven't we, Victoria?" Alicia asked.
In spite of herself, Victoria felt her face turn a deeper shade of red. Clearing her throat, she stated, "We better get back to work. We'll soon have hungry customers in here."
She walked away but turned around once again. "Alicia, you never did answer me. Will you…."
"Si, I will work for you this evening. You enjoy yourself; you deserve it."
Victoria walked away without looking at Rosa. She decided she'd reassure Rosa later that things were alright between them. However, she didn't have a chance before she left, because business picked up. As she was collecting her things, Rosa found her in the kitchen alone.
Rosa herself turned red. "I'm sorry, Victoria, I never meant to offend you…."
Victoria smiled at Rosa in a friendly fashion. "That's all right, Rosa. It's nothing anyone else hasn't asked me in the past, like Alicia said." She cleared her throat. "I better get going."
Rosa smiled a timid smile and nodded. She returned to the dining room and Victoria hurried out the door.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
As she rode up to the de la Vega hacienda, her novio was waiting outside by the front door. She smiled broadly in return of his dazzling smile.
"Finally! I've been anxiously waiting for you," Diego said, collecting a quick kiss and receiving a small slap on his shoulder in return.
"Diego! We shouldn't do that. What would the servants think?"
"Well, they'll simply have to get used to it, wouldn't they?" His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Because I plan to kiss you quite often, now that I can." In a softer voice, as if to himself, he added, "After all, I've waited long enough for the chance."
She rolled her eyes at him. Oh, how she loved seeing the fun-loving, more relaxed side of Diego, now that she knew his secret. And he could finally share it with her.
But then she realized what he had said. A small tinge of sadness came over her. She never really thought about the masked man wanting to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him, knowing he was risking his life before they could be together. Not to mention having no one to confide in about the difficulties of being Zorro, whatever they may be. Victoria straightened her shoulders. Now Diego has help with his mission of protecting the pueblo. He doesn't have to carry the burden alone any more.
And she indeed had to stop thinking about it then, for Alejandro and Felipe came out to greet them. Just as Diego was about to suggest they sit down, Maria called them for supper. When she noticed Victoria beside Diego. Maria's face lit up with a bright smile. She whispered in Victoria's ear how happy she was to see Victoria once again. Remembering Diego's affection for the de la Vega housekeeper, Victoria caught one of the older woman's hands and gave it a small squeeze.
Supper flew by again as Diego and Victoria recounted the day's events to the other two.
"So, how shall we tell everyone we're now engaged?" Victoria asked Diego, who looked at Victoria in surprise for the suddenness of her question.
Victoria continued, seemingly oblivious of Diego's surprise. "I think we should announce our engagement tomorrow, Diego. I believe we have the entire pueblo expecting it. At least according to Alicia. In fact she was surprised you didn't ask me last night."
"Oh, she was, was she?" Diego asked. Thinking, he added,"Who are we to disappoint them, then?" Then Diego's face lost his grin. "But is it alright to announce it before you supposedly break up with Zorro?"
"Well, I suppose I could say I'm tired of waiting for him to reappear and I'm so happy with Diego I want the entire world to know it."
Victoria looked at Diego directly and waited for his response. To her delight, a small blush appeared on those handsome, well-defined cheekbones.
"Well, Felipe, look at that! Diego can blush, after all," his father said.
Diego rolled his eyes. Coughing to hide his embarrassment, Diego ignored Don Alejandro's statement and said, "Well, if you're correct, Victoria, we've been the subject of much gossip for a while now." He looked over Felipe's shoulder, sitting across from him. "I suppose Zorro can then ride into town after supposedly hearing about the engagement to confront Victoria."
Felipe sat straighter in his chair and began to sign furiously. Diego, deep in thought, missed part of it and Felipe was signing more quickly than even Diego could follow. "Whoa, Felipe! I'm sorry I didn't catch half of what you said."
Felipe turned to Alejandro to wink at him. He then faced Diego and began signing again. "I've kept it to myself but Victoria's right. Almost since you returned home, there's been much gossip asking why you don't have the courage to court Victoria."
Diego cried out in protest, and Victoria wasn't sure whether it was fake or real. "Felipe, don't tell me they're saying all that."
"Actually, Diego, a number of dons have also mentioned it to me over the years," Don Alejandro began, giving his son a smile. "Either teasing me about you being too intimidated to court Victoria or simply asking when you'll get around to start courting her."
Diego cocked an eyebrow at his father. "Is that so?" Turning to Victoria, Diego lifted her hand to his mouth and lovingly placed a soft kiss on the back of it. "Querida, why don't you start wearing the ring tomorrow morning then."
Diego winked at her as she sensed Don Alejandro rising from his chair. "Ring? What ring, Diego?"
Diego relaxed back into his chair, looking up at his father with a laconic smile. "Oh, I gave her Mother's ring when I proposed to her in Zorro's cave a while ago."
AN: I know, I know. The episode "He Who Lives by the Sword" happens in the second season, while Zorro proposes to Victoria in the fourth season episode, "An Affair to Remember". Let's simply pretend that the episodes are reversed in the order of the series. Thank you. I appreciate it.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I also hope I get the next chapter up a lot sooner than this one was. Sigh. Thank you for your patience.